My grandfather William George Growdon died 60 years ago, and today we visited his grave in Stellawood Cemetery, Durban for the first time in more than 30 years. My grandmother, Janet McCartney Growdon, born Hannan, had died two years earlier, and they were buried in the same grave as my Uncle Willie, whom I never met, who was killed in a motorbike accident before I was born.

Growdon grave in Stellawood Cemetery, Durban

William George Growdon (known as George) was born in Cornwall and came to the Cape Colony at the age of 3, where his father William Matthew Growdon worked on the Cape Government Railways as a platelayer in the Eastern Cape. George became an engine driver on the railways, until he was injured in an accident at Drummond, Natal, after which he worked in the railway stores at Greyville.

Janet McCartney Hannan was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and met George Growdon in Transvaal, and they were married at Waterval Boven in 1909. Their grave is very near the highest point of Stellawood cemetery, and it seems that the dead have one of the best views in Durban.

Cabaret was immortalised in 1972 by the film version directed by Bob Fosse. It won eight Oscars that year, two of which went to Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey for their portrayals of Sally Bowles and the Emcee, respectively. Inevitably, any subsequent production is compared to the film, as the roles of the Emcee and Sally Bowles have to bear comparison with the iconic performances of Minnelli and Grey.

Fortunately, anyone going to Peter Mitchell’s production of Cabaret currently on at the Hexagon Theatre will not be disappointed. Caitlin Kilburn is

Based on the world described by Christopher Isherwood in his Berlin Stories, the milieu is the Weimar Republic, under a government that encouraged sexual indulgence of all kinds.

Aitchison is very good as Bradshaw as are Diana Wilson as Frau Schneider and Leo Quayle as Herr Schultz.

Second cousin once removed James Aitchison (from the Growdon side of the family) acts in a Pietermaritzburg play.

Today I went to the LDS family history library in Johannesburg, and looked at the microfilmed parish register of St Neot, Cornwall. I was looking for my ggg grandfather, William Growden, who was born about 1764, and married Elizabeth Sandercock (or Saundercock) at Cardinham, Cornwall, in 1792.

I didn’t find him. There were some Growdens there but they too seem to have come from nowhere — a Joseph Growden who married an Elizabeth Cocker. Perhaps Joseph and William were brothers, but until we can find their birth and parentage, there’s no way of knowing. The film was fairly uneven. The middle of the pages was easily legible, but the top and bottom were dark, with poor contrast, and so it would be quite possible to miss an entry.

I also found a few Sandercocks, who might be related — i still have to check for possible connections.

I don’t know if this Marty Growdon is related to us, or which branch of the Growdon family he belongs to, but maybe someone will know.

Marty Growdon participates in AIDS Lifecycle 7
July 22, 2008. Originally, Westwood resident Marty Growdon committed to participate in AIDS Lifecycle 7 for a week of cycling along the California Coast with his son, Mark, the first week of June. However, when his son was injured while training and had to drop out, Growdon decided to ride alone.

Although he didn�t have a riding buddy, it was not a lonely endeavor. The seven-day, 545- mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles had 2,500 participants and 500 support staff. According to the event mission statement, its purpose in part is to raise money to support HIV/AIDS services, increase awareness and knowledge of the disease and provide a positive experience for people affected and infected with HIV.

The Growdon brothers came to South Africa from Cornwall in the 1870s with their parents William Matthew Growdon (1851-1913) and Elizabeth Greenaway (1842-1927). William Matthew Growdon worked for the Cape Government Railways, first as a platelayer, and later as a permanent way inspector. Most of the sons worked for the railways as well.

Simeon went back to the UK and married Louise Quaintance in Wales, but she died soon after the birth of their only child, Alice. He then returned to the Cape and married Sarah Jane (Rose) Gibson, and had three more children, Willie, Simeon and Thelma. Simeon Junior was Simoné’s father.

Simoné and her husband live in Cape Town, so I had not met them before, and so it was good to see her and her daughter Brenda when they came to visit this afternoon. Brenda is keen on sport, and had come to Pretoria to play badminton.

Jackie Seaman is organising a reunion for descendants of William Growden and Elizabeth Sandercock. It will be held at Jackie’s home in Pennsylvania, USA, and anyone who is able to attend will be welcome.

Jackie writes:

The Reunion will be the weekend of July 26-27, 2008. It will held at our house which is on the north- west corner of Rounds Hill Road & Round Road, Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania 16350. With the driveway comimg in off of Round Road.We have 5.5acres so a lot of people are bring tents and campers and staying right here. Some are staying at the Best Western in Jamestown, NY, about 8 miles north. We have some that are planning to come the Monday before to help get ready and some that are planning to stay until the Friday after to help put things back to normal, and others that can only come for the weekend.